Collapsible-tube closure crimping unit



P. FREEMAN 3,273,310

COLLAPSIBLE-TUBE CLOSURE CRIMPING UNIT 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Sept. 20, 1966 Filed Nov. 14, 1963 INVENTOR.

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Sept. 20, 1966 P. FREEMAN COLLAPSIBLE-TUBE CLOSURE CRIMPING UNIT Filed Nov. 14, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.5

EEELE RE ECCEFEEC INVENTOR. PHILIP FREEMAN BY ATTOQNEY.

Sept. 20, 1966 P. FREEMAN COLLAPSIBLE-TUBE CLOSURE CRIMPING UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 14, 1963 INVENTOR. pH/LIP FREEMAN BY Q4! ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,27 3,310 COLLAPSIBLE-TUBE CLOSURE CRIMPING UNIT Philip Freeman, 1391 E. 33rd St., Cleveland, Ohio Filed Nov. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 323,759 1 Claim. (Ci. 53-371) This invention relates to multi-station machines used in filling and closing collapsible tubes and particularly to the closure crimping unit of such machines.

Conducive to a better understanding of the invention, it may be well to point out that many paste-like materials are packaged in collapsible metal tubes with a dispensing spout at one end and a crimped closure at the other end, which is folded and permanently sealed after the tubes are filled.

The unfilled tube is usually placed in a vertical position on a conveyor belt with its dispensing spout end down and its open end up.

While held in this position the collapsible tube travels between a filling station, a tube end folding station, and then to a final station where the folded tube end is crimped to provide a permanently closed end.

The crimping unit usually has coding means, in the form of metal type, which em-bosses the lot number on the crimped end of the filled tube at the same time that the crimping jaws close on the folded end of the tube.

The movement of the crimping jaws is ordinarily controlled by mechanical linkage which causes the jaws to move toward each other to exert the proper crimping pressure on the folded end of the filled tube positioned therebetween.

The adjustment of the pressure control linkage is often difficult, since too great pressure will cause the linkage members to buckle, bend, or break.

Again, if, for some reason, a filled tube is not present every time the crimping jaws close the opposite jaw will impact against the face of the identifying indicia type, scarifying it.

The primary object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a metal tube crimping device whose clamping jaws are actuated solely through pneumatic means, whereby the crimping pressure can be easily and accurately controlled.

Another object is to provide a type carrying toothed crimper whose opposed jaw teeth can never meet in type damaging engagement, even if accidentally closed in the absence of a folded tube end therebetween.

Still another object is to provide a crimper unit whose jaw height can be easily, quickly and accurately adjusted to accommodate filled tubes of different length.

A further object is to provide a crimper unit, of the type stated, that is simple and rugged in construction, easy to adjust to accommodate folded tube ends of different thicknesses, reliable in operation, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These, and other objects of the invention with become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claim, together with the accompanying drawing, wherein like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference numerals, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a conventional c01lapsible-tube filling machine, showing the crimping unit thereof, that is the subject of this invention, mounted thereon;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the crimper unit, with portions in section, showing a filled tube being crimped by the closed jaws of the crimping device;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the crimper unit, with its jaws in their open position;

FIGURE 4 is a rear view of the crimper unit frame;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the jaws in their closed position, without a tube end located therebetween,

3,273,310 Patented Sept. 20, 1966 and with portions broken away to show that the teeth of the movable jaw do not touch the faces of the embossing type mounted in the stationary jaw;

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal sectional view, taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 66 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a front view of the toothed face of the movable crimping jaw;

FIGURE 8 is a front view of the toothed face of the stationary crimping jaw;

FIGURE 9 is a view taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 99 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a front view of the crimped face of the filled and closed tube formed by contact with the jaw illustrated in FIGURE 7; and,

FIGURE 11 is a front view of the crimped end face of the filled and sealed tube formed by contact with the jaw illustrated in FIGURE 8.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is seen in FIGURE 1 the crimping unit that is the subject of this invention, broadly indicated by reference numeral 20.

The unit 20 is mounted on the base 21 of a conventional collapsible-tube filling machine 60, having a filling station 22, a tube end-folder station 46, and a conveyor belt 23 having a plurality of tube holding sockets 24 mounted thereon for intermittent movement between the various stations including that of the crimper unit 20.

The tube filling machine 60, other than its crimper unit 20, forms no part of this invention and is merely shown to indicate the relation of the crimper unit 20 thereto.

The crimper unit 20 comprises a frame having two spaced upright brackets 31 and 32 mounted on the ma: chine base 21, as shown in FIGURES l and 4.

A rectangular bar 33 is mounted between the brackets 31 and 32 on the tops thereof, and is secured thereto by means of bolts 58.

Reference numeral 37 indicates a rectangular panel which is mounted between the brackets 31 and 32 for vertical movement therebetween, toward and away from the top bar 33, on tracks 34 and 35, as is seen most clearly in FIGURE 4. r

A threaded rod 36 engages a threaded vertical bore 38 in the panel 37, and is keyed and journaled at its upper end in the bar 33, and upon rotation acts to move the panel 37 longitudinally of the tracks 34 and 35 between adjusted vertical positions relative to the machine base 21.

Reference numeral 40 indicates a double-acting pneumatic cylinder which is mounted on the panel to extend laterally thereof in a plane parallel to the machine base 21.

Air hoses 39 and 41 bring compressed air to opposite sides of the cylinder piston to positively move its piston rod 49 between retracted and extended positions, as required.

The cylinder 40 has a stationary head 47 with the piston rod 49 centered therethrough for reciprocating movement.

Two stationary guide rods, or rails, 50 and 51 are mounted on the head 47 and extend laterally thereof in spaced and parallel relation to the piston rod 49 as is seen most clearly in FIGURE 3.

A movable head 48 is mounted on the guide rails 50 and 51, for free sliding movement longitudinally thereof, toward or away from the stationary head 47.

The head 48 is anchored to the free end of the piston rod 49 and is moveable thereby.

Reference numeral 52 indicates a nylon spacer of the same shape as the opposed end faces of the pneumatic cylinder heads 47 and 48. The spacer 52 is mounted 3 between heads 47 and 48 on the rails 50 and 51, with clearance for the piston rod 49.

Two crimping jaws 53 and 54 are mounted on the lower edges of both heads 47 and 48, respectively, as is seen most clearly in FIGURE 2.

The crimping jaws extend the width of the heads, with crimping teeth 55 and 56 on their opposed faces, which are adapted to bear against the folded end 27 of the filled tube 25 to form an interlocking pattern of spaced parallel grooves 28 and 29.

The vertical heighth of the jaw teeth 55 and 56 is equal to the heighth of the folded end 27 of the tube 25.

One of the crimper jaws 53 has a groove 57 milled in the upper face thereof, which also intersects the toothed face 55, thereof.

Type slugs 30, hearing identifying indicia, such as numerals or letters, are positioned in the groove 57 with theirfaces extending slightly beyond (approximately the plane of the jaw teeth 55, as is seen most clearly in FIGURE 9. Thus, when the tube end 27 is being crimped between the jaw faces 55 and 56, as seen in FIGURE 6, the indicia of the type 30 will be simultaneously embossed on the crimped end 27, as seen in FIGURE 11.

Reference numeral 44 indicates a cam disc whose rotation is co-o-rdinated with the filling and tube sealing cycles of the machine 60. The cam disc activates an electricair valve 43, for controlling the admission of air to the cylinder hoses 39 and 41, through arm 45 which rides against the rotating edge of the disc 44.

In the operation of the crimper unit 20, unfilled tubes 25, with their bottom ends open, are placed in the conveyor sockets 24 in an inverted position with their nozzle ends 26 down.

The machine 60 is then put into operation and the tube carrying sockets 24 are moved cyclically by the conveyor in a counterclockwise direction from the filling station 22 to the tube end folding station 46 and then to the crimper unit station 20. At this point the folded end of the tube is positioned between the spaced apart crimper jaw teeth 55 and 56. The control cam 44 activates the air valve switch to operate the air cylinder 40 to move the head 48 toward the fixed head 47, which in turn causes the crimper jaw 56 to press against the face 28 of the folded tube end 27, and in turn presses the face 29 of the tube end 27 against the crimper jaw 55.

The so squeezed tube end is momentarily held between the crimping jaws, as seen in FIGURES 2 and 6, and permanently sealed. Referring to FIGURE 6, it will' be seen that the nylon spacer 52 is still spaced from the fixed head 47, due to the fact that the thickness of the three-ply folded end 27 of the tube 25 is great enough to prevent the complete closure of the heads 47 and 48 against each other.

The amount of squeeze can be easily controlled by varying the air pressure in the cylinder 40, and is not dependent upon critical and difficult to adjust mechanical llinkage.

A study of FIGURE 6 will show that the teeth 56 of crimper jaw 54 are prevented from touching the face of the type slugs 30 by reason of the tube end 27 being therebetween.

However, if the tube end were not there, the problem of striking the face of the type 30 by the teeth 56 must be considered. This is solved by making the thickness of the nylon spacer 52 such that when it contacts both heads 47 and 48 the teeth 56 of the crimper jaw 54 will still be spaced from the face of the type slugs 30, as seen in FIGURE 5.

In the preferred form shown, the type faces extend beyond the face of the teeth 55 of crimper jaw 53, and the thickness of the nylon spacer 52 is made such that the crimper jaw teeth 55 and 56 will be spaced apart when the cylinder heads 47 and 48 are closed tightly against the spacer 52. I

Thus, if the crimper should be activated without a folded tube end 27 centered therein, the fully closed jaws 56 would still be spaced from the face of the type 30.

The'presence of the spacer 52 protects the type 30 and prevents breakage and marring of the face thereof due to careless operation of the machine.

The use of nylon in the spacer 52 provides a cushioning action for the impact between the head 47 and the moveable unit composed of the head 48 and the spacer 52, which prevents damage to the impacting parts.

Again, the use of a separate nylon spacer permits the accurate separation of the parts, under changing operating conditions, since nylon spacers can be substituted for one another, when necessary, without requiring that the whole head 48 be replaced.

It will now be clear that there has been provided a device which accomplishes the objectives heretofore set forth.

While the invention has been disclosed in its preferred form, it is to be understood that the specific embodiment thereof, as described and illustrated herein, is not to be considered in a limited sense, as there may be other forms or modifications of the invention which should also be construed to come within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

In a collapsible tube filling machine of the type having conveyor means for holding the tubes in a vertical, inverted, position and intermittently moving same along the base of the machine between tube filling and tube closing stations, a tube closure crimping unit, comprising in combination, an upright frame mounted on the mamounted on the frame, including means for moving the panel in a vertical plane between adjusted positions; a pneumatic cylinder mounted on the panel and extending laterally thereof in a horizontal plane, the cylinder having a stationary head at the free end thereof centered over the conveyor; 21 pair of spaced guide rails mounted on the end face of the stationary head, and extending therefrom over the conveyor and across its travel path; a movable head connected to the end of the pneumatic cylinder piston rod and slidably mounted on the guide rails for travel longitudinally thereof; a nylon spacer mounted on the guide rails between the stationary and movable heads; a toothed crimper jaw mounted on the bottom edge of the stationary head, said jaw having type slugs mounted therein with their impression faces extending beyond the plane of the forward edges of the jaw teeth; a second toothed crimper jaw mounted on the bottom edge of the movable head, with its teeth in opposition to the stationary crimper jaw teeth and movable toward and away from the first crimper jaw with its supporting movable head; the width of the nylon spacer being such that when it is contacted by both the stationary and movable heads, the teeth of the second crimper jaw will be spaced from the impression faces of the type slugs carried by the first crimper jaw; and cam means, activated by the cycling mechanism of the tube filling machine, for controlling the pneumatic cylinder, to move the cylinder piston rod between a first, extended, position wherein the movable head and its crimper jaw are made to travel away from the stationary head and its crimper jaw, and a second, retracted, position wherein the movable head and its crimper jaw are urged toward a position whereat the movable jaw acts to press the folded closed end of a filled tube, held by the conveyor between the two jaws, against the stationary crimper jaw to impress the crimp pattern, of the two jaw teeth and type indicia, on both faces of the so folded and sealed tube end.

No references cited.

TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner. 

